Join us for the CUPE 3903 Welcome Back BBQ October 6th between 11-3, outside Atkinson building!

Come meet or reconnect with other members, talk about what’s going on in the union, and — of course — have some food!

There will be Halal, Kosher, and vegan options. Accessible washrooms are available both in Atkinson and Second Student Centre buildings, and there will be seating available.

Zhina (Mahsa) Amini (a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman) was murdered on Friday, September 16, after being arrested and beaten into a coma, by the Islamic Republic in Iran’s, so-called “Morality Police”, officers responsible for enforcing the country’s hijab and dress code mandate.

Amini was forcefully arrested last Tuesday evening for allegedly breaking hijab rules by not covering her hair “properly”, during a family visit in Tehran. A few hours later, she was transferred to the hospital with severe bruising, head trauma, and concussion symptoms. The police of Islamic regime in Iran have denied that she was beaten, but her family said “…officers beat her in the police van after her arrest…”, and that her “…face was swollen and her legs were bruised” when they saw her in the hospital. Amini was in a coma for three days before passing away on Friday. Her body was moved from the hospital for more “investigation” on the cause of death, without her family’s consent, and it was later announced that Amini died due to a previous health failure. However, her family and Iranian people disagree because of violence evidence on Amini’s body and no transparent investigation report.

Amini was not the first woman to be murdered by the Islamic Regime in Iran for not complying with the state’s radical law requiring women to cover their hair and body. Iranian authorities have a long history of violently and inhumanely enforcing compulsory veiling laws. In 2005, the government established a special police force commonly termed the “Morality Police”, which has continuously harassed, intimidated, and assaulted women who do not comply with the dress code mandate. Many have been arrested, mentally and physically battered, and murdered for challenging the theocratic regime’s hijab rules.

The Iranian Women’s Rights Movement has a long history of fighting for primary rights and freedom for women and queer people. The movement launched the Change for Equality: One Million Signatures for the Repeal of Discriminatory Laws campaign in 2006 with the goal of achieving equal rights for Iranian women by reforming theocratic laws that discriminate against them. In response to the news of Amini’s murder by the police, Iranian activists and women’s rights advocates have since launched protests in over 13 cities, where many Iranian women have burned their headscarves in an act of solidarity with Amini’s family. The Islamic regime has responded by deploying militarized riot police to quell the protests, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people. The regime has also blocked the internet access to suppress the protesters. 

CUPE 3903 and YUGSA strongly condemn the horrific actions of the Islamic Regime in Iran and support the rights and freedoms of women around the world, including their bodily sovereignty and choice of apparel. Freedom of expression and belief lies at the heart of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), which states that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”. As activists, advocates, and scholars, we stand firmly in solidarity with Amini’s family and other Iranians, working diligently to prevent violence against innocent people, particularly Iranian women. 

 As Iranian Republic’s president, Ebrahim Raisi attends the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, we want our constituents and the world to be aware of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s violation against Iranian women, which is a denial of inalienable human rights. We question whether a government that has no respect for women’s fundamental rights should serve on the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women. And we implore the Canadian government and the U.N. to act by mobilizing diplomatic measures for enforcing the international laws and declarations designed to protect women’s human rights globally.

We Must Keep Each Other Safe as the Pandemic Persists

Given York’s lack of an adequate plan in the face of the seventh wave of COVID-19, it falls upon us as a community to keep each other safe. 

The York University community is heading into a fourth academic year affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This September, next to no preventative measures will be taken by the administration: no masks, no distancing, very little remote learning, and no clear guidance on how to keep ourselves and each other safe. Those of us who are at high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 are acutely aware that this pandemic is not over and can be very serious, even deadly. In the context of a pandemic, it is not enough to simply encourage everyone to make individual choices based on preference or comfort. 

It’s important to recognize that the sum of our efforts affect our whole community, working to either protect or further endanger those most at risk. In the face of the York administration’s negligence, it is up to us to act in solidarity with one another so that we can face this pandemic together. Here are some basic steps we can all take to keep each other safe as we gear up for September.

Report all COVID-19 outbreaks using our reporting tool

The first step to ensuring a safe campus for us all is tracking outbreaks. In over two years of the pandemic, York has not even attempted a community-wide contact-tracing initiative. In a first step toward gathering information, we’re introducing an outbreak reporting tool. 

Wear a well-fitted mask

We have known for a long time that masks significantly limit the transmission of the virus. We advise our members to wear a well-fitted mask that covers the nose and mouth in all indoor areas. We recommend disposable N95 respirators or other well-fitted, layered masks that cover the nose and mouth. Wearing your mask helps protect everyone. Members can apply to the Extended Health Benefits Fund (EHB) to help cover the cost of masks.

Get vaccinated

Vaccines  decrease the possibility of the most severe symptoms of COVID-19, including risks of hospitalization and death. As the pandemic continues, new COVID variants will emerge, so it’s important to get the initial vaccine and the boosters to maximize protection. Of course, not everyone can get vaccinated. Just as with masking, getting vaccinated when you can helps protect those who can’t. 

Maintain social distancing whenever possible

Limiting close contact (less than 2 meters) with others decreases the chances that you will catch or spread COVID, so you should still practice distancing yourself where possible and encourage those you share spaces with to do the same.You can request a room change through the Chair of your hiring unit. If you are not sure how to assess the safety of your classroom, contact union staff or executive officers for support.

Stay home if you’re sick

We keep our communities safe by limiting exposure to the virus. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and/or if you test positive for COVID-19 (even if you are not experiencing symptoms) please do not come to campus. 

All CUPE 3903 members are entitled to paid sick leave, and you are not required to teach from home if you are unwell. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and/or if you test positive for COVID-19, you can exercise this important right by following the steps below:

1. Report illness on the YUScreen tool.  
2. Contact your Hiring Unit (Chair of the Department you are teaching in) and let them know that you have COVID-19 symptoms and/or have tested positive for COVID-19 and that you would like to avail yourself of the paid sick leave provisions in your Collective Agreement (you are advised to copy your union representative on this email). Please note that you are not required to submit medical documentation with this request. 
3. Contact the Union and fill out our outbreak reporting tool.

Do you have questions about your paid sick leave entitlements? Are you being asked to teach remotely while unwell? Are you experiencing long COVID and in need of workplace accommodations? Contact the CUPE 3903 Equity Officer with questions, concerns, or to request advocacy support at cupe3903equity@gmail.com

Protect those who need it most / An injury to one is an injury to all

While many of us want to move on from what has been a very difficult few years, we are still in the midst of a global pandemic that has already cost too many people their health or even their lives. This situation is unprecedented, and we don’t yet know the full long-term effects of such a widespread illness. The reality of an infectious disease is that the decisions we make solely thinking of ourselves can have life-long consequences for others. The labour movement has always said that an injury to one is an injury to all; this remains all the more important to remember as York’s administration seemingly forgets about those who need to be protected the most.  

COVID will be with us for the foreseeable future, and we must take it seriously. By taking the precautions that have been proven to limit infection, severe illness, and death, we can keep each other safe

OCADFA is launching our #sessionalscount campaign today.  We are asking allies to  Sign our petition to support Job Security & Fair Pay for Sessionals at OCAD U!  Please share our petition and share on your social media using #sessionalscount

More than 60% of all OCADU faculty are Sessional, and remain the lowest paid faculty in Ontario universities. The majority of OCAD U Sessionals (70%) have been teaching at OCAD U for more than five years – many have taught at OCAD U for over a decade – yet remain precarious with no job security. Sessional Faculty are calling on the OCAD U leadership to work with OCADFA to improve working conditions.

You can visit our campaign website here: https://ocadfa.ca/sessionals/

We are hosting a General Membership Meeting via Zoom on September 20th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm! All members are encouraged to attend.

Please register in advance for this meeting here.

In order to register, you will need to provide your employee number, which will be kept confidential. Your employee number is on your monthly pay stub. If you don’t know your employee number, please click here for instructions.

Keep reading for the tentative agenda, accessibility information and more. Continue reading →

We are hosting a General Membership Meeting via Zoom on August 30th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm! All members are encouraged to attend.

Please register in advance for this meeting here.

In order to register, you will need to provide your employee number, which will be kept confidential. Your employee number is on your monthly pay stub. If you don’t know your employee number, please click here for instructions.

Keep reading for the tentative agenda, accessibility information and more. Continue reading →

The following committees have vacancies. For further details on the work of each committee and honorarium payment attached to their work, please see here.

Interested members should email Ali Gholami, VP Unit 1, cupe3903vpu1@gmail.com to nominate themselves or for more information.

Any committees with more nominees than positions open will be voted on at the upcoming General Membership Meeting (GMM). Otherwise, nominees will be acclaimed to their position.

Nominees will be notified if their candidacy will be voted on at the GMM and are then welcome to send a short written candidate statement (max. 150 words) for inclusion in the AGM package.